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Toronto Maple Leafs: Ranking the NHL’s Top 5 Defensemen

By James Tanner

Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche shoots against the Seattle Kraken during the third period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Climate Pledge Arena on April 28, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche shoots against the Seattle Kraken during the third period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Climate Pledge Arena on April 28, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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May 21, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4)  Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

#4 Miro Heiskanen

Picked 3rd overall in 2017, it took just five season for Mikko Heiskanen to ascend to the top of his profession.

The now 24 year old is coming off of a season in which he more than doubled his offensive output to 73 points.

His team, the 108 points, 8th overall, Dallas Stars, destroyed the opposition whenever he was on the ice. When Heiskanen played, the stars won his minutes by a score of 73-55 (57%) which was a bit lucky, but his 54% xGoals rating was still elite.

Just not elite enough for Norris voters:

Dougie Hamilton almost made this list.  Josh Morrissey and Hampus Lindholm did not.  Either way, playing in Dallas really impacts how famous you are, which is really what the Norris Trophy is all about, apparently.

Just 24, it’s going to be fun to see how good he can become.  The Second Best In the World isn’t an unlikely outcome, and his team will enter next season as one of the NHL’s best bets to win the Stanley Cup.

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